Kozhikode/Kochi: The LDF government and the police failed to ensure a foolproof investigation into the alleged rape of the nun by Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, alleged Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference at District Congress Committee office, here, on Wednesday, Mr Chenni-thala said that the lackadaisical attitude of the state government as well as the police and the failure to carry out the investigation in a time-bound manner forced the nuns to come out in the open. They were forced to register the protest in an open platform after 76 days of submitting a complaint by the nun against the Bishop, he added. .
The investigation team was not allowed to carry out the probe in a time-bound manner, he said, adding that it is up to the probe team to decide up on whether a person is guilty of no. “The guilty, whoever it is, should be equal before laws of the land”, he added. “The delay in investigation caused much suspicion among the public as well as the kith and kin of the nuns on the genuineness of the investigation team,” he added.
On the Bar licence scam controversy Mr Chennithala said that Kerala Congress (M)leader K.M. Mani was innocent in the case. The probe was manipulated and his innocence would be proved if a fresh vigilance probe is conducted, he claimed.
Protest march in kochi for bishop’s arrest
A protest march on Wednesday to support nuns on strike was taken out to the Ernakulam Range Inspector General’s office on Wednesday demanding the arrest of rape-accused bishop Franco Mulakkal.
Actor turned director Joy Mathew inaugurated the march and many participated, including women. The actor said that the government is afraid of the church and actions are passive because of that.
The protesters alleged that the police served the notice to bishop Franco as an ‘invitation’ to treat him well. They also questioned the fear in police and government to arrest the bishop.
The police blocked the march by putting barricades on the road leading to the IG office.
Following that, the supporters of the nun’s strike staged a sit-in protest on the road.
The protesters also warned that the agitation will be on another level if bishop was not arrested after interrogation.
